On League Street Zach Vruwink, Chief Operating Officer
▶ Building the Future With Technology
In the early 2000s, I had the privilege of working with small local governments to bring their accounting
we view them as only the beginning. Looking ahead, we know AI can help local governments increase efficiency, particularly as many communities face the challenge of doing more with fewer staff due to population decline and tight budgets. While AI will never replace the personal connections and local knowledge that define municipal government, it can serve as a valuable tool to support staff, streamline processes, and open new opportunities for resident — government engagement. At the League, we also recognize that members are at different stages of engaging with new technologies. Some are just beginning to explore digital tools, while others are already testing advanced applications. That’s why at our conferences and events, we have featured, and will continue to feature, practical ways to apply emerging technologies. Be sure not to miss this month’s Food for Thought episode! These sessions are designed for everyone, from those brand new to technology to those ready to take the next step. Just as important, our events bring solution providers into the room. These vendors can serve as important partners, and we encourage you to connect with them — and to introduce them to us as well. Your experiences and referrals help us better understand what’s working in the field and who is offering real value.
and WisVote services online. For some, it was their very first PC. Most were still on dial-up internet, with reliable high-speed broadband barely on the horizon. Offering residents digital access to permits, payments, or records felt groundbreaking. From 2003 to 2012, my journey as a technology entrepreneur taught me not only the challenges local governments face when embracing new technology, but also the enormous opportunities that technology can unlock when implemented with vision and purpose. Fast-forward to today, and those opportunities are greater than ever. I see how far we’ve come, and how much potential remains. When I began my service in local government, League manuals and the magazine were available chiefly in print form. The website went from a way to access event and contact information to a robust resource library containing over 3,000 pages. With a foundation rooted in consuming League resources as a local official to now serving as Chief Operating Officer, I’m excited to lead the next wave of tech enhancements. We’ve launched an interactive digital edition of The Municipality magazine and a method of accessing manuals for city and village officials. These are just a few examples. We can do more if our systems are better equipped. That’s why an aspect of the League’s 2026 budget is investment in technological modernization. Building on our migration to a cloud version of our member information system in 2025, the planned investments include a new learning management system to introduce on-demand, dynamic training opportunities, a member portal that will centralize access to League and insurance resources, streamline event registration, and introduce virtual “communities” that will function like enhanced list serves to help members connect, share, and problem- solve. Each of these steps is designed to improve member service, foster engagement, and make League resources easier to access. Another area of focus is artificial intelligence (AI). The League team is already engaging with AI-agents (ChatGPT and CoPilot) in very practical ways — in our communications, to efficiently source and synthesize volumes of information, and to assist with content review. These early applications are proving useful, and
The Municipality - October 2025 | 18
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